Snow fence



Ap 1941- c. FREDRICKSON 2,238,417

SNOW FENCE Filed Jan. 25, 1940 INVENTOR 6/2745 FPcdrwc/tsow WITNESSES Patented Apr. 15, 1941 SNOW FENCE Chris Fredrickson, Rice Lake, Wis., assignor to Metal Snow Fence Company, Rice Lake, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application January 25, 1940, Serial No. 315,557

3 Claims.

This invention relates to fences and particularly to an improved snow fence, an object being to provide a construction which may be positioned alongside roads, highways, and the like, for preventing the drifting of snow on the roads or highways.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved snow fence which utilizes a specially constructed open wire fence or standard wire fence, and additional strips or panels arranged at spaced intervals vertically to catch the drifting snow.

A further object, more specifically, is to provide a snow fence which includes vertical members and a plurality of horizontally extending metal strips woven with the vertical members and spaced vertically.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a side view of one end of a snow fence disclosing an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the upper part of the left-hand end of the fence shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through Fig. 1, approximately on the line 3-3;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modified form of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, l indicates a wire fence, which may be a standard wire fence or a specially constructed fence. The fence, however, must have some form of spaced vertical uprights or rods 2 so as to re ceive the respective panels or strips 3. Prefer ably the wire fence I is made of non-rust metal, though it could be made of other metals and coated with non-rust material. Also the strips or panels 3 are preferably of non-rust material, as for instance, copper, though the panels could be made of low grade steel or other material and coated to make the same rust-proof or substantially rust-proof. As shown particularly in Fig. 2, each strip 3 is provided with a turned-over end 4, which is wrapped around the end upright 5. From the upright 5 the various strips 3 are woven in and out around the various uprights for the full length of the fence. Ordinarily the strips 3 are held in place by friction except at the ends where the bent-over portion 4 acts as a retaining hook.

As shown in the accompanying drawing, the fence I is provided with horizontally spaced rods or other suitable uprights 2 and horizontally extending rods or wires 6. As shown in Fig. 1 the wires 6 are vertically spaced different distances apart,

though, if desired, they could be spaced the same distance apart. The flat metal strips 3 are likewise made of different widths and are spaced different distances apart, as shown in Fig. 1. The widest strip 3 is arranged at the bottom, the second widest strip 3 is arranged as the second strip from the bottom, and so on to the top of the fence. This provides various open spaces 1 which are of different widths. While this is a preferable structure, all the openings could be of the same width and also all the'strips 3 could be of the same width.

The completed fence, as shown in Fig. 1, is adapted to be placed alongside a road or highway so as to catch any snow that might attempt to drift on to the highway and block the trafi'ic. The

fence could be arranged for the full length of the highway or only at desired points where drifting of snow is liable to take place in wintertime.

The fence could be supported by any suitable form of temporary supports or could be supported by posts permanently fixed in the ground. When,

posts are used the fence could be secured thereto by staples or other suitable securing means and remain a permanent fixture alongside the road. It will be evident that the height of the fence will vary as circumstances demand.

In certain parts of the United States and elsewhere, heavy falls of snow occur and usually, by reason of winds, the snow drifts appreciably at certain places. Where the drifts take place on a road or a highway, the same becomes impassible until the drifts have been cleared away. To obviate the drifting of snow on a highway, a fence, as shown in Fig. 1, could be arranged alongside the highway at the points of possible drifting or for the full length of the highway. The fence will not prevent snow falling directly on the highway or road, but is adapted to prevent the drifting of snow in deep piles on the highway or road.

As the fence is made of wire and thin flat metal strips 3, it is of comparatively light weight and yet amply strong for the purpose intended. Also it may be rolled and shipped to desired points without danger of breaking or being injured in any way. Where a wire fence is used as shown in the accompanying drawing, the horizontal wires or bars are preferably welded to the vertical wires or bars, though other fastening means may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In Fig. 4 a slightly modified form of the invention is disclosed wherein the fence 8 is similar to the fence I. A plurality of spaced uprights 9 are used in the fence 8. These uprights may be equally spaced as shown in the drawing, or unevenly spaced without departing from the spirit of the invention. The vertical uprights 9 may be secured to the horizontal rods or wires ID by welding or other suitable means. Arranged at the lower part of the fence are a plurality of evenly spaced thin metal strips I 1. Each of these strips is provided with a turned-over end 4 similar to the end 4 shown in Fig. 3. These strips are woven in and out for the full length of the fence and present a barrier for the passage of snow at the lower part of the fence. Where the drifts of shifted snow are apt to be of considerable height the fence shown in Fig. 1 is used, but where the drifts are comparatively low the fence shown in Fig. 4 may be used.

I claim:

1. A metal fabric of the character described including a plurality of spaced transversely extending rods, a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending wires interwoven in a plain weave of open mesh and flat metal strips of less width than the spacing between the respective longitudinally extending wires extending parallel with said longitudinally extending wires and interwoven with said rods, there being a metal strip for each of said longitudinally extending wires except the top wire, the width of said metal strips being such as to provide open portions between the respective metal strips and the next adjacent wire thereabove.

2. A metal fabric as set forth in claim 1, characterized by positioning the wires so that the spacin thereof will vary from the top to the bottom with the greatest spacing at the bottom.

3. A metal fabric of the character described including a plurality of spaced transversely extending rods, a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending wires interwoven with said rods in a plain weave of open mesh with the spacing of the longitudinally extending wires varying from one side edge to the other with the greatest spacing at one side edge and fiat metal strips of varying widths between the respective longitudinally extending wires extending parallel with said longitudinally extending wires and interwoven with said rods, there being a metal strip for each of said longitudinally extending wires except one side edge wire, the width of said metal strip varying with the varying spacing of said longitudinally extending wires with the widest strip in the greatest spacing of said wires, the second widest strip in the second greatest spacing of said wires and so on for the full width of the fabric, each of said strips being respectively of a width to provide an open portion adjacent one side edge of the strip.

CHRIS FREDRICKSON. 

